ENTERPRISES AND THE URBAN-ENVIRONMENT IN THE USSR

This paper examines the role of enterprises in the Soviet Union in providing housing, educational, health and other social facilities for their workers. The practice started in the 1930s as a means of assisting labour recruitment. After the second world war it continued as a result of the lack of resources available to local soviets (councils). Four relationships between enterprises and local soviets are described: enterprise as landlord, enterprise as neighbour, enterprise as sponger and enterprise as partner. The latter case, where there is an attempt at joint planning of facilities, is rare. One effect of this system is that there are major differences in standards of facilities between districts of a city according to which enterprises districts 'belong' to. There are also important differences within the USSR, with enterprises playing a larger role in providing housing etc. in areas where the general level of infrastructure is low. The power of enterprises means that action against pollution is difficult. The growth of residents' activism, e.g. neighbourhood self-management committees, is referred to but it has not yet challenged the power of enterprises and local soviets. Finally, the 1988 law giving greater independence to authorities is referred to, one of whose effects is to reduce enterprise spending on housing and social facilities.